Continuous vulcanizing method and apparatus



a. w. BULLEY. CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET APPLICATIO N FILED APR. 26, 191B.

G. W. BULLEY.

CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED APR.26, I918.

Zia/90% 1 13mg Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. W. BULLtY.

CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED APR-:26, 1918.

1,41 1,706. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

SSSSSSS SHEET 3.

$1. JDSEPH, MICHIGAN.

AWE AP'EARATUS.

lhlfllflih Application filed April 26,

i ooll 207mm may conccm:

lie it. known that l. Guonoi: ll. litmus, a silicon oil the United ritales of America, and resident of fit. Joseph, iierrien County, lvl i'rhigan, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in (Joniiziuo s Vulcan icing Methods und f I .15 which the followingis (l spec-inc My invention re icing: or curing ru pagicuiar ercncc to impru" method of and apparatus and other vehicle lures.

.l: is to eliminate diliiculties .ons of ihe various Tflki'illOLlS of auvulcunimu'zion, and lo substitute and apparatus generally d and apparatus by which '"i greaier quanring shill. ihzin has heretofore ueen possible.

As illustrative oi the ineiliciency of the usual methods of vulcanizing automobile tires, is common practice to simply stack in a hoalir chan'ibcr i group or batch of tires enclosed in individual molds, and allow them to remain in said chamber in a quiescenl; concition until vulcanization is accom plis l, whereupon they are removed to cool, sh hatch placed in the oven or it is ohvi ouev 2. that such a method as this, While satisfactory to a certain degree. is expensive and slow and the produci is decidedly non-uniform. Because of rho fact that the tires are thus handled in haitches or groi 35-3 the method is necessarily intermittent and irregular and considerable unprofitable lime is consumed in placing the tire into and removing them from the heating a and in getting the oven ready for each heai'i. This procedure necessarily makes it p acti rally impossible to maintain the temperaturc of the oven the same for the same length of time for each heat and the resulting: product varies greaily in quality and degree of vulcanization. Another factor effects the product. Uncured rubber when heated, and until vulcanization sets in, has a decided tendency to soften and distort itself due to the influence of grarity and other forces, and since the tires are in an undisziurbed position in the oven during the entire hearing operation, the rubber Will often flow such an extent to fatally affect the product. In fact it is generally accepted as nos good Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

1218. Serial filo. 231,032.

practice to place tires upright While being heated because of this gravitational flow which causes structural distortion. For this reason. the tires are generally positioned horizontally in the heating chamber to mini mine this effect. Considering the objections further the heating ovens are productive of zones or varying temperature, and the molds are in contact with each other, and in consequence the lower tires in the stack are often undercured and the upper ones overcured.

in carryimz out my invention I pass the tires preferably as a uniform rate or" speed through a circulating heating medium maintained at constani; temperature, the tires, and their molds, if they are enclosed in molds, being arranged or disposed one followin the other in relatively close succession an out of contact with each other. To accomplish this I provide a mechanism which is continuous and automatic in operation and which subjects each succeeding tire to the same conditions and treatemenfi.

Referring to-the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectioned View of continuous vulcanizing; mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of said mechanism on the line 22 of Fig. 1 at suhstantially right angles to the view in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4*. is an enlarged detail of one of the tire holders of'the conveyor, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the discharge door mechanism.

The structure which is shown in the drawings involves an oven or heating chamber A preferably completely closed and disposed verti ally to minimize the floor space required. This chamber is rectangular in horizontal. section. The Walls are composed of brick and concrete and suitable insulation to prevent dissipation of the heat and at the same time provide a substantial structure. The roofor top wall A is arched, or curved so as to serve a deflector or ballle' for the current of circulating heating medium Within the chamber. The chamber contains a series of steam piping B for supplyingthe necessary vulcanizing temperature, and in the present structure this piping is posi-' in a series of ducts through which the heat' ing medium is circulated in contact with the heated pipes. These ducts are formed by a vertical partition wall 3 and a series of horizontal partitions 4.. The vertical wall terminates short of the top and bottom of the structure and is spaced from the side wall. The horizontal partitions extend between the vertical partition and their opposite ends 5 are curved to provide passages (l'connecting the ends of the ducts, thus forming one continuous duct or passage of great length. The heating pipes are positioned within these ducts and provide an extensive heating area for the purpose. In the present case the heat is transmitted to the tires and molds through a medium of water vapor or saturated air.

which is introduced to the interior of the chamber by the valve controlled nozzle 10. This nozzle is connected with a source of saturated steam. In the preparation of the structure initially for operation the water vapor or steam is introduced into the chamber until the air is either replaced by the,

steam or saturated with moisture to the desired degree of humidity, the a r gradually leaving the chamber through the doors through which the tires are introduced and,

chamber I circulate the heating medium.

For this purpose I provide a fan or blower 11 which may be of any standard or ap proved design. This blower is preferably driven by an electric motor and is positioned in the lower part of the chamber. The outlet of the fan is connected by means of a duct 12 with the lower end of the heating duct whereby the heating medium will be forced upwardly througlrthe heating ducts. The heated water vapor is conveyed from the upper end of the heating duct by an ex tension duct 13 the end of which is positioned adjacent the arched roof of the chamher. The water vapor is discharged against this arched roof and deflected downwardly into the chamber. The intake of the blower is open to the lower end of the chamber from which the water vapor is withdrawn and forced through the heating ducts to the upper end. Thus a constant circulation of ..eated water vapor is maintained througlr out the chamber whereby the entire interior of the chamber constitutes a zone of constant tennmrature and the tires are individually subject to the identical conditions. It

will be further observed that the loss of heat is reduced to a minimum since the chamber is closed and the same heated medium is circulated therein.

An endless conveyor C for the tires is disposed vertically and centrally within the heating chamber and is arranged to travel constantly in one direction. This particular structure consists of two parallel endless chains 15 traveling around suitable sprocket wheels 16 at the upper and lower ends of the conveyor, the sprockets being on shafts 17 mounted in suitable hearings. in this case the upper shaft extends through the wall for connection with a suitable driving means. These chains have holders or brackets fastened thereto at regular intervals for the purpose of holding the tires. The tires and their molds are represented in the drawings by the annular or ring-shaped members 19. and the holders or brackets are constructed to handle these members. These holders are curved to conform to the tires, and comprise straps having at their centers the curved clips 21 arranged to embrace the members 19 and support them at one point. Outstanding from each chain are triangular bracket arms 22 each of which have similar clips midway of their length which provide supports for the tires at two more points. these parts being proportioned so that the clips are positioned beyond the center of the largest annular members which the structure will be called upon to handle, hence the tire molds will be firmly held in position while being carried by the conveyor but free for removal or insertion with respect to the conveyor. The bracket arms are of the same length as the links of the conveyor chains and their ends are connected to the conveyor at the pivotal joints thereby maintaining the plane in which the tires lie substantially radial to the sprockct wheel centers when traveling around said sprocket. The tires are. in the present structure fed successivelv to the conveyor in a horizontal the heating oven the position or relation of i the tires is altered or changed with respect to the action of gravity z-that is the position of the material in the tires is altered or changed relatively to the constant down \vardlv acting force ol gravity ther on with the result that thc'ellcct of gravity on the material is neutralized because the tiow of material does not persist long enough in and makes possible the use oi unskilled labor and consequent reduction 'in the cost of pro duction. In any event I move or pass the molds and tires successively through the heating zone, and each individual mold is maintained completely separate and out of contact not only with each other mold but also out of contact with all metal or other .parts of the mechanism except the comperatively small points oi support o-fthe holders. Thus each unit mold is heated entirely independent and individually. That they are all heated alike however is evident because they traverse the same path in the heater. the consequence being that the resulting; product is remarkably uniform.

I provide a horizontal platform or guide We 2 which extends into the hosting chem her to point close to the conveyor. This.

pletform extends through on opening in the wall of the structure wide enough to per unit the ot' the molds therethrough. Beneath the platform is a coin ressed air feeder embodying a. long cyli'n er 25 die posed horizontally and having a piston 26 and a piston rod 27 operating towards and from conveyor. The piston has at its outer end e trigger 28 which projects shove the guide way through a long slot 29 therein. lhis trigger engages the inner peripheryof the tire mold end when steers or compressed air is admitted hack of the piston it carries the mold along the guide way end enters or inserts it into. the holders of the conveyor. The piston then returns to normal and corries the finger or trigger to enge ge the next mold. lln order-to allow the trigger to pass to the inner periphery oi the next mold on its return stroke it is hinged on the end of the piston rod and is yieldingly held in a vertical position by a spring. On ihe forword stroke the trigger'is rio'id vertical so as to carry the mold with 1t. The feeding of the tires to the conveyor by this mechanism is timed so that as each llOldQI'willI'lVES in position it tire is inserted in to it. This is preferably accomplished by a controller which governs the supply of the air to the cylinder. in the air supply pipe 31 for the cylinder a valve 31 is provided which controls the air to the cylinder. This valve is operated by a control lever 32 through a rod 33. The lever is pivotally mounted in a suitable support and its end lies in the path of the holder clips at one side of the conveyor. As the-holder clips reach a position to receive a mold. the valve will be automatically operated and sir supplied to operate the feeding mechanism. The feeding opening in the wall on the oven is covered by a hinged or swinging door 34: pushed open by each mold or tire as it enters the chamber and then swings closed after the tires have passed, this being provided to conserve the heat in the chamber and prevent the entrance of cold air draughts. As a further precaution. however. 1 provide an enclosure which covers the opening 5 and provides an auxiliary chamber in which the tires are positioned for the feeding mechanism. This ouxiliary chamber is preferabl v of just suiiicient size to accommodate one mold or tire. The mouth of this chamber is also covered by a swinging door 36 acting in the some manner the inner door. it will thus be observed that the outer door 36 is spaced from the inner door so that it will. close before the inner door is opened, hence cold air droughts cannot enter the heating oven. The operator places the mold or tires in the auxiiisry chamber as test as they are carried therefrom to the conveyor, this preliminary operation being accomplished manually or automatically as desired. The tires are discharged from the lower end of the conveyor on the down side and as the tires successively arrive at the lower end thereof they drop by gravity es from the holders when a suiiicient angle is reached in passing around the lower sprocket Wl18lS.- The mold or tires drop onto an. inclined guide way or chute 37 which delivers them through on opening 38 in the chamber wall to a position where they may be removed as desired. This opening is likewise protected against droughts and cold air by a swinging door 39 and on auxiliary chamber or enclosure l0 which forms a dc livery chamber. This compartment also has an outer swinging door 411. the two doorsbeing spaced apart in permit the do sure of the inner door prior to the opening of the outer one.

I claim y 1. The herein. described method of vulcanizing vehicle tires consisting in moving the tires individually in close succession through a chamber at predetermined speed causing gravity to controlthe flow of the rubber in the tires by chnngrin; the position of the tires relatively to the action of force of gravity. and circulating heated Water vapor in said chamber.

2-. a continuous vulcanizing mechanism the combination. of an enclosure forming an upright heating: oven. means for intrmlucing water vapor into said even. heating means for said water vapor. means for circulating the heated vapor within said oven, and a constantly moving conveyor in said oven ior carrying the articles to he vulcanized.

3. ln ai'ontinuons vulcanizing mechanism the combination of an enclosure forming a heating oven. 'is'ieans for introducing water vapor into said oven. heating means for said water vapor. means lor circulating the heated vapor within said own. and a (3011- tinuous tire carrier for moving the tires in the zone of said circulating heated 'apor.

4.111 a continuous vulcanixer. the con1 bination of heating oven, means for -iw.-ulating water vapor therein. a eonstantlv operating the carrier for carrying the tires in succession in the zone of said circulating vapor. and means for feediru. the tires successively to said carrier.

A continuous vulcanizer'comprising in cinnbination an enclosui forming an oven chamber. means for introducing water vapor to said chamber to provide a heat. traiisferring medium in said chamber. ducts mmunicating with the interior of: said cham-' her for the passage of said vapor, heating means in said ducts for heating the vapor, means for maintaining the heated vapor in circulation through said ducts and chamber, and a traveling tire-carrying mechanism for moving the tires in the zone of said circulating medium. 7

(i. continuous vulcanizer comprising in combination an enclosure forming an. oven chamber, means for introduring water vapor to said rhamher to provide a heat transferring: medium in said chamber. ducts commucatinp with the interior of said chamber for the passage of said vapor. l1eating means in said ducts for heating: the vapor, means for maintaining the heated vapor in circulation through said ducts and chamber. a tirecariving' conveyor for maintaining the tires in motion in the zone of said circulating medium. and an auto-i'natic feeder for periodically feeding the tires to said conveyor.

Signed by me at ('hicago, lll., this 21 day of January 1918.

G E()R( iE W. BULLEY. 

